Crossword Genius

Cutting article from writer seen as mediocre and dated (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hacksaw

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cutting article' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'writer seen as mediocre and dated' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'writer' could be 'hack' (hack is a kind of writer) and 'hack' is found in the answer.
'seen' could be 'saw' (seeing is a kind of seeing) and 'saw' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hacksaw that I've seen before include "something cutting" , "One cuts" , "something to cut copper?" , "Metal-cutting tool" , "Blade in a frame under tension" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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